The last time that I made watermelon cupcakes, I lamented the fact that the watermelon flavor wasn’t strong enough. Even though I had used my homemade watermelon syrup and watermelon butter in the cupcakes (both of which had vibrant, fresh fruity flavors), the cupcakes themselves were severely lacking. I asked one of the best sources of information I know (my readers) for help. How could I make true watermelon-flavored cupcakes? Some of you said it couldn’t be done and I would have to resort to artificial flavors (you should have known that I would never believe you), while others filled the post’s comments with ideas.

The idea that resonated the most with me was from the very first commenter, JodieMo of Eatin’ On the Cheap:

Once I got my heart set on using a watermelon jam or jelly, I immediately thought of my friend Marisa of Food In Jars. If anyone would know how to make a superb watermelon jelly, I knew it would be she. Marisa responded that she had never made watermelon jelly before, but she was up for the challenge (she’s a woman after my own heart). She not only agreed to make some watermelon jelly and post the watermelon jelly recipe on Food in Jars, but she offered to send me a jar! She’s the best – really! Go read her blog!

I have to assume that most of you have never tried watermelon jelly. I’ve never seen it for sale locally or even online. You might think (as I thought at first) that perhaps there is a reason that no one sells it – maybe watermelon jelly is no good. Wrong!

Watermelon jelly is spreadable Summer that you can use long after the first frost to conjure up memories of spitting seeds in the yard and gossiping with the neighbors. Its flavor is true to the melon with no chemicals needed, and the fact that you have to either make it yourself or know someone who will lovingly make it for you makes it all the more special.

Did Marisa’s Jelly Make For a True Watermelon-Flavored Cupcake?

After watermelon cupcake attempt one, I was a bit gun-shy. I wondered if the commenters who directed me toward artificial flavors might be right and I was wasting my time looking for a watermelon holy grail. I worried that if I baked the jelly into the cupcake, its flavor would fade away – and I only had the one jar. What if my new cupcake recipe were a failure and the precious jelly became a Cupcake Project sacrifice? I couldn’t let that happen!

I decided on two things:

My watermelon cupcake recipe had to prominently feature the jelly.

I needed a second flavor that would complement the watermelon and add a level of complexity to the cupcake.

To that end, I made a jelly roll of sorts – a yeasty basil cupcake with watermelon jelly rolled inside.

I couldn’t have been happier about my decision to add basil. Basil and watermelon may seem like an unlikely couple. But, once you get to know them, you’ll want to take them with you everywhere. Your turkey sandwich will thank you for adding basil olive oil and watermelon jelly to it – trust me!

And yes, with the watermelon jelly rolled throughout, the cupcakes did taste watermelony. My only regret is that the cupcakes were way too dry – like bread that needs to be buttered. I’d strongly advise that you slather some extra basil olive oil and watermelon jelly on top (in fact, I’d even recommend dunking bits of the cupcake in the jelly as you eat). Also, as with any drier cake or bread, these are best enjoyed in the morning with a hot beverage.

Will There Be a Watermelon Cupcake Attempt 3?

I felt really close on attempt 2, but I’m not quite there yet. Jonathan says that the dryness could be a plus (like a morning scone), but I want moisture. Maybe, now that I have Marisa’s jelly recipe, I’ll make some jelly of my own and try again.

One Last Thing

Fans of watermelon should note that my favorite cupcake blog (other than my own), Cupcake Bakeshop, recently made watermelon chocolate ice cream cupcakes that look divine! She didn’t try to bake any watermelon into the cake (perhaps she wisely believed the rhetoric that you can’t make a cake taste like watermelon). Instead, her cupcakes derive their watermelon flavor from a watermelon buttercream and a watermelon sorbet.

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16 comments on “Watermelon Cupcakes – Attempt Two (This Time With Jelly)”

You got me. I want to make watermelon jelly (I LOVE making jams/jellies) too! What about a vanilla cupcake with the jelly filling. then a very light glaze over the top. Or maybe not even a glaze. Maybe whip cream on top.

Or… Going the other direction. I wonder what a bittersweet chocolate ganache would taste like with the watermelon. Now I’m going to have to try them all!

GFin the City recently posted a watermelon cupcake recipe that used Jell-o as an ingredient.Apparently, They taste nothing like what you expect a cupcake to taste like and every bit like watermelon candy. It’s a combination that makes you giggle and widens your eyes.I think its worth a try, if you really want watermelon cupcakes, though Maybe make you’re own watermelon flavoured gelatine mix?

I think I’d stop trying to bake the watermelon flavor into the cupcake. It seems like you’re inevitably going to lose a lot of its nuance, since it’s such a delicate flavor. Given that you’ve got the jam, I’d use a less exotic cupcake and fill it with the jam after baking. Maybe also incorporate some jam into buttercream (not the icky confectioner’s-sugar kind, a meringue-based buttercream, which does a better job of letting flavors come through). If you must have the basil flavor too, make a basil-watermelon buttercream.